Clothes washing implement



Dec. 23,1941.

E. R. cRooKER, SR 2 ,267,232 CLOTHES WASHING'IMPLEMENT .Filed July 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z 9.J, I v

ATTORNEYS;

[km.23 l941.

E. R. CROOKER, SR 2,267,232 CLOTHES WASHING IMPLEMENT Filed July 20, 1939 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ida/mil. craakei gil IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHES WASHING'IMPLEMENT Edwin. Ray Cracker, sr lllauderdale, Miss. Application July 20, 1939', SeriaLNo; 2 5,594 r 3 Claims. (sme ma) V This invention relates to clothes washing implements adapted for handuse, and particularly to that type of implement designed to force water through the articles being washed to effect a thorough cleaning of the articles, with the minimum amount of exertion on the part of the.

operator.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the quantityof soap passing from the soap container forming a part of the washer head, to the end that the proper amount of soap will be supplied to the washing liquid at all times.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means to regulate the suction produced by the action of the washer, to increase the efiiciency of the washer.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a washer which will operate to rotate. th articles within the tub or container while they are being washed, eliminating the necessity ofi'moving the washer to various positions within the. tub: or container to contact the various ar ticles under treatment.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of con struction hereinafter described and claimed, it"

being; understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described,

may be made the scope of what is claimed,

without departing from the spiri'tof the invention.

Reierring to the drawings: c Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through'a washer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View illustrating the soap container, used within the Washer head. Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3. V Figure 5- is a. sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3.

- Figure 6 is a. iragmental sectional view illustrating the soap container and tubesth-rough which the air enters and exhausts. from the washer head.

Figure '7 is a detail view of the regulating sleeve mountedv on one end of the air tube.

Figure 8 is an elevational' view illustrating the bulb connected with the airtube which is supported adjacent to the handle of the washer.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 r includes a head indicated by the reference char- \l acter 5, the head being ho'llow and preferably cone-shapedas clearly shown by the drawings. The'referenc character 6 designates a partition which extends across the head, near the upper end thereof, dividingthe head into a soap coinpartment I and a washing compartment 8, the partition 6 having a plurality of openings 9,

through which theliquid soap passes into the washer head.

Extending into the head, is a tube I ll," which is of a length to extend through the partition 5, the tube In, being spaced from the partition 6, providing a clearance for the soap container H, which is slid into position over the lower end of the tube, as clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings. Openings are formed in the tube lit, at l2, the openings'being of. various sizes, to admit liquid to the interior of the tube HI and soap container I i'. The soap. container H is provided with a cut-away portion. I13 extending down wardly' irom'the upper edge thereof, the cutawayportion i3 communicatingwith a transverse cut-away portion M which in turn has cutaway portions i5 formed: in one edge thereof.

Alug l'fifis. punched outwardly-from the tube H and'moves-in the cut-away portions M- and i5; regulating themovement of the soap containenl-L, and at the same time'afiordingmeans for securing'thesoap-containerin position, Due to this construction, it will be seen that by rotating the soap container H. over the tube H),

openings of-various sizes may be broughtinto registry with the cut-away portion I 3 to regulate the quantity of liquid passing into the soap container. In the use of the device, it is contemplated to use soap in. solid form in the soap container, so-that liquid passing over the soap, will, pick up the soap and pass into the soap compartment 'Lwhere it will flow through'the openings 9- to con-tactywith 'the'clothes being washed. Secured withinthe con-finesof the head 5, and

disposed adjacent to: the lower edgethereof is.

a'semi-circular chamber H, which is preferably circular in cross section, the ends of the semicircular chamber H being closed. Openings l8 are formed in the lower surface of the semicircular chamber I'! so that air may flow intoand out of the chamber'th-roug-h these openings, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully de scribed. Communicating with the chamber 11, is a tube l9 that is secured along the inner surface of the head 5, the upper end of the tube i9 extending through an opening in the partition 6, where it communicates-with the relatively short tube 2!] which is shown as extending. down--- wardly through an opening in the partition 6, where it provides a support for the sleeve valve 2| which is provided with cut-away portions adapted to register with the openings 22, formed in the lower end of the tube 20. By rotating the sleeve valve 2|, various openings 22 may be exposed, regulating the amount of air passing through the tube 20.

The tubes l9 and communicate at 23, the tubes being also in communication with the atmosphere, through the member 24, which may be in the form of a whistle, to the end that air passing through the member 24 will cause a si nal to be made indicating to the operator, that the washer is functioning properly, and that the proper stroke is being used. The handle of the washer is indicated by the reference character 25, and as shown, the handle fits in the upper end of the tube It), where it is held by frictional contact with the wall of the tube.

, Supported at the upper end of the head 5, and communicating with the compartment 1, is a short pipe 25, to which the tube 21 is connected, the upper end of the tube 21 being supplied with the bulb 28 which is secured to the handle, by means of the band 29, shown as encircling the handle. In connection with the bulb 28, it might be stated that the bulb is so located with respect to the handle 25, that it will be in a position to be gripped or grasped by the hand of the person operating the washer. Thus it will be seen that when pressure is exerted on the bulb 28, the bulb will be compressed, forcing air into the compartment 1, from where the air will pass into the lower portion of the washer head. When the bulb is released, on the upstroke of the washer, it is obvious that air will be sucked into the tube 21 and bulb 28, allowing the water to rise within the head, to accomplish its purpose.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figure 10 of the drawings, a semi-circular chamber 30 is provided near the lower end of the washer head 3|, the chamber 30 being provided with openings 32 in the lower edge thereof. A pipe indicated at 33 establishes communication between the chamber 30 and atmosphere, and due to the location of the pipe 33, it will be seen that when the washer head is moved within the liquid of the container in which the head is being operated, the liquid will seal the open end of the pipe 33. As the washer head is elevated, and the level of the water is below the open end of the pipe 33, air will be admitted to the chamber 30, releasing the vacuum therein and allowing the articles which have been drawn into engagement with the chamber 30, to be released therefrom.

In the use of the device, hard soap is positioned in the soap container H, and the sleeve valve 2| is rotated to admit the'desired quantity of air to the p pe 20.

The washer is now moved vertically within a container in which clothes to be washed are placed. As the washer is moved vertically, it is obvious that the articles will be lifted by suction caused by the chamber |1 contacting with the articles, which causes the openings l8 thereof to be closed.

Upon the upstroke of the washer, it is obvious that air will enter the tube I9, releasing the articles. In view of the fact that the chamber I1 is semi-circular in formation, it will be seen that the action of the washer will be to rotate the articles within the chamber, as the articles are being drawn towards the chamber l1, and moved away therefrom.

With the movement of the washer within the container, liquid enters the soap container liquefying the soap, which passes outwardly into the compartment 1, where it passes through the opening 9 into the liquid in which the washer is being used.

As before stated, upon downward movement of the washer, bulb 28 is compressed, forcing air into the head 5. As the bulb is released and expands, air will be drawn into the bulb, allowing the water to rise to a great height in the head 5 so that the water may pass into the soap container II, as described.

By. regulating the sleeve valve 2|, the amount of air passing through the tubes l9 and 20 may be regulated, increasing or decreasing the suction in the semi-circular chamber |1.

When it is desired to use the washer in rinsing water, the container ll may be rotated to completely close the openings |2 thereof, thereby preventing soap entering the rinsing water.

In view of the foregoing disclosure it is thought that a further detail disclosure as to the operation of the washer is unnecessary.

What is claimed is:

l. A washer of the class described comprising a washer head, a semi-circular chamber secured within the head at the lower end thereof, said chamber having openings in the lower surface thereof, a tube extending upwardly from the chamber and communicating with the atmosphere at a point adjacent to the upper end of the head, a tube communicating with the first mentioned tube and extending downwardly into the washer head, and through which air enters the washer head, a valve controlling the passage of air through the tube, and means controlled by the operator for forcing air into the washer head and drawing air from the washer head, and thereby regulating the passage of water into the washer head.

2. A washer of the class described comprising a hollow washer head, a semi-circular chamber secured within the washer head adjacent to the open end thereof, said chamber having openings formed in its lower surface, a tube communicating with said chamber and extending along the inner surface of the head, the upper end of said tube extending through the wall of the head and communicating with the atmosphere, a substantially short pipe connected with the tube and extending into the head, the free end of the pipe being open and means including a sleeve valve positioned on the open end of the pipe and adapted to regulate the volume of air passing through the tube and pipe, whereby the vacuum and compression within the head is controlled.

3. A washer of the class described comprising a substantially cone-shaped hollow washer head, a semi-circular tubular chamber mounted within the head adjacent to the lower edge thereof, the ends of the tubular chamber being closed, said chamber having a plurality of openings formed in the lower surface thereof, a pipe communicating with said chamber and extending through the wall of the washer head, establishing communication between the tubular chamber and atmosphere, and a handle by means of which the washer head is operated.

EDWIN RAY CROOKER, SR. 

